DIY Wake shaper

So i sold the saltare and got a santera.......now for the surfgate.
This is my first attempt with a fiberglass swim platform but i think it will work just fine. I'm just posting a couple of picks of what i have done and hope to test it tomorrow night(weather permitting). I'll post picks of the wave as soon as i'm off the water, but the max weight will be 750 in each rear locker for a total of 1500#. I hope it will take a lot less weight to get a great wave but we will see.
http://i1280.photobucket.com/albums/...pscdea7672.jpg
http://i1280.photobucket.com/albums/...psac6b3f29.jpg

I'm using about 900 in the rear with my gates. I sold my prototypes and just finished my new set. They turned out real nice.

One thing I've found with the OEM fiberglass platforms is that the 2" lip of fiberglass that's under the platform cuts into your surf wave and robs you of lots of your push. We had to ditch our fiberglass platform and made a prototype out of wood that cut off the corners so it wasn't dragging in the wave.

Yep i,ve experienced that squashing effect on my old saltare. This Santera doesn't do that as bad. My wife really likes the fiberglass swimdeck so i figured i would keep it for now. Unfortunately the weather has still been shitty with either rain, wind or just to cold so i haven't been in the water to try the wave yet. I only have one more weekend to try before i go to powell so hopefully summer will show up and i'll get to try it out.

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Originally Posted by 2500HD

Yep i,ve experienced that squashing effect on my old saltare. This Santera doesn't do that as bad. My wife really likes the fiberglass swimdeck so i figured i would keep it for now. Unfortunately the weather has still been shitty with either rain, wind or just to cold so i haven't been in the water to try the wave yet. I only have one more weekend to try before i go to powell so hopefully summer will show up and i'll get to try it out.

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So I have been following these "build you own wake gate" threads, you seem to have it pretty dialed in, as well as Corn Rickey. I have an 87 Saltare which I am going to get unwinterized in a few days and want to get on the water this weekend. In reference to the swim step, I recall it did dig into the wave as well, dont remember if i had a huge impact on the wave but I remember it gouging it pretty good. I wonder how easy it would be to trim the swim steps edges up and fill in some of the gap underneath to prevent it from impacting the wake so much. Also, it took me just over 2000 Lbs last year to actually go ropeless, so the swim step was 2-3 inches underwater just at idle, would be nice to use less weight and have a cleaner wake, I am going to look into making one of these wake shapers as well, i will keep you posted, thanks Devon

If my platform squashes the wake i will first raise it 1 to 1 1/2 inches and if that doesn't do it i will just build another wood one(my wife will just have to learn to love it). Hopefully i will find out this weekend!

Hey 2500HD, Just curious how everything turned out? Any updated pics of Installed rudders and waves?? Thanks for all the great posts!!!

I have been thinking of replacing my deck. I have thought about making one out of teak and copying the contour of my current platform. Is the problem with the stock platform the round edge underneath? So a solid wood deck should help especially if I trim the corners like trayson did. Thoughts. Sorry for the highjack.

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Originally Posted by Cusefan78

I have been thinking of replacing my deck. I have thought about making one out of teak and copying the contour of my current platform. Is the problem with the stock platform the round edge underneath? So a solid wood deck should help especially if I trim the corners like trayson did. Thoughts. Sorry for the highjack.

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Yep, the main problem i was having with the stock platform was the lip hanging down. It was in essence hanging down in the wave and having a squashing effect. The other problem was that the back corners needed trimmed to clear the wave as well. Now there is no interference even when the rub rail is touching the water.
http://i1280.photobucket.com/albums/...ps3447fa98.jpg
Sorry but no new pictures of the rudders or wave. If i get a chance to go out this weekend i'll try using it and get a picture.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by 2500HD

Yep, the main problem i was having with the stock platform was the lip hanging down. It was in essence hanging down in the wave and having a squashing effect. The other problem was that the back corners needed trimmed to clear the wave as well. Now there is no interference even when the rub rail is touching the water.

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What he said.

Here is my custom platform for my XLV...

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-J...010_155343.jpg